What this calculator does
A money counter adds up a pile of cash without you having to do the arithmetic by hand. Enter how many of each Australian note and coin you have, from $100 notes down to 5c coins, and it totals the lot, which is the everyday job of counting a till float, a cash tin or coin jar before a bank deposit.
The current Australian note and coin denominations are $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 notes, and $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c coins. This calculator uses exactly those eleven denominations, so every count you enter maps to a real piece of currency rather than an approximation.
The formula
Each denomination is multiplied by how many of it you counted, and all eleven subtotals are added together for the total. Notes and coins are also totalled separately, which is useful when reconciling a cash drawer where notes and coins are often counted and stored apart.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Denomination | A specific note or coin value, such as $20 or 50c. |
| Subtotal | The value contributed by one denomination: its count multiplied by its face value. |
| Total value | The sum of every denomination’s subtotal, the full cash count. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Count of $100 notes | How many $100 notes are in the count. |
| Count of $50 notes | How many $50 notes are in the count. |
| Count of $20 notes | How many $20 notes are in the count. |
| Count of $10 notes | How many $10 notes are in the count. |
| Count of $5 notes | How many $5 notes are in the count. |
| Count of $2 coins | How many $2 coins are in the count. |
| Count of $1 coins | How many $1 coins are in the count. |
| Count of 50c coins | How many 50 cent coins are in the count. |
| Count of 20c coins | How many 20 cent coins are in the count. |
| Count of 10c coins | How many 10 cent coins are in the count. |
| Count of 5c coins | How many 5 cent coins are in the count. |
When to use it
Counting a till or cash register
At the start or end of a shift, counting every note and coin denomination separately and totalling them is the standard way to check a till float or a day’s cash takings against the register record.
Preparing a bank deposit
Banks generally want cash sorted and counted by denomination before a deposit; working out the total in advance avoids a mismatch at the counter.
Splitting a coin jar or cash tin
A jar of loose change rarely gets counted until it needs to be, and totalling it by denomination is quicker and less error-prone than counting one coin at a time.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the total changes as the count of $50 notes rises
The same note and coin counts elsewhere, with the number of $50 notes varied.
| Count of $50 notes | Total value | Value in notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $480.50 | $440.00 |
| 5 | $730.50 | $690.00 |
| 10 | $980.50 | $940.00 |
| 20 | $1,480.50 | $1,440.00 |
| 30 | $1,980.50 | $1,940.00 |
| 50 | $2,980.50 | $2,940.00 |
How the total changes as the count of $1 coins rises
A fixed set of notes and other coins, with the number of $1 coins varied.
| Count of $1 coins | Total value | Value in coins |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $718.50 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $728.50 | $38.50 |
| 20 | $738.50 | $48.50 |
| 50 | $768.50 | $78.50 |
| 100 | $818.50 | $128.50 |
| 200 | $918.50 | $228.50 |
Questions
What denominations does this cover?
The current Australian currency denominations: $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 notes, and $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c coins. Older or discontinued coins, such as the 1c and 2c pieces withdrawn in the 1990s, are not included since they are no longer legal tender.
Can I use this for a currency other than Australian dollars?
The denomination values are fixed to match current Australian notes and coins, so it will not line up correctly with another country’s currency, which uses different denominations.
Why are notes and coins totalled separately as well as together?
Cash handling procedures, particularly bank deposits and till reconciliations, often treat notes and coins as separate totals, so having both alongside the combined total saves a second calculation.
Does it matter what order I enter the counts in?
No. Each denomination is entered and totalled independently, so the counts can be entered in any order without affecting the result.
For splitting a counted total between people, such as dividing a shared cash payment, see the tip and bill split calculator. To convert cash income into a weekly, monthly or annual figure, use the salary and hourly rate converter.